TWS's Dohoon Tops December Rookie Idol Brand Reputation Chart; ILLIT's Wonhee, Hats to Hearts' Ian Follow

TWS member Dohoon has secured the top spot in the December rookie idol individual brand reputation rankings, as announced by the Korea Corporate Reputation Research Institute.

According to the analysis, which utilized big data collected from November 4 to December 4, 2025, Dohoon of TWS claimed the first position. ILLIT's Wonhee and Hats to Hearts' Ian followed in second and third place, respectively.

The total volume of rookie idol individual brand big data analyzed was 4,495,159, a decrease of 21.07% compared to the 5,694,794 data points from November.

The brand reputation index is a metric derived from analyzing how consumers' online habits influence brand consumption. It measures positive and negative perceptions, media interest, and consumer engagement.

Dohoon achieved a brand reputation index of 282,427, with participation index at 87,991, media index at 58,566, communication index at 78,691, and community index at 57,179. This represents a significant 126.99% increase from his November ranking.

ILLIT's Wonhee garnered a brand reputation index of 264,141, but saw a 39.12% decrease from the previous month. Hats to Hearts' Ian ranked third with an index of 229,493, experiencing a 48.73% drop.

Gu Chang-hwan, director of the Korea Corporate Reputation Research Institute, noted the overall decrease in rookie idol brand data, with declines observed in brand consumption, issue coverage, communication, and diffusion.

He further elaborated that Dohoon's high ranking was driven by positive associations like 'cool,' 'outstanding,' and 'warm,' along with keywords such as 'TWS,' 'Overdrive,' and 'Music Show MC.' His positive response rate stood at a strong 87.03%.

Netizens reacted enthusiastically, with comments like 'Dohoon at number 1, of course!' and 'A bit disappointed for Wonhee, but looking forward to next month!' Many were impressed by Dohoon's substantial surge in popularity.